Source : Arab News - February 5, 2010By: Ben Micu, Jr. Sensei
With barely a month before the start of the "Year of the tiger", Sphinx Shoto-kan Karate-do International (SSKI) added another milestone in its quest for supremacy in martial arts by capturing the most coveted over-all Championship title in the Senior Division of FIMAA's (Filipino International Martial Arts Association) 6th Karate Tournament with an insurmountable 5-1-2 record for Champion, 2nd & 3rd Places, respectively. The event dubbed "Arena of Honor" was held at the Al Badr International School in Jeddah last January 15, 2010.
First to put SSKI in the limelight was Dan Sagmit Jr., who was adjudged Champion in the Green belt "Kata" category with his flawless rendition of "Heian Shodan" This was followed by Al Debalucos, who likewise claimed the Championship plaque in the Brown belt Category (Kata) with his Bassai Dai" execution and a 2nd Runner-up plaque for Boy Cielo Sensei, who performed "Gojushiho Sho" and "Nijushiho" in the Black belt elimination and final phases, respectively in the Black belt Kata competition.
Not to be outdone and greatly motivated by their victorious counterparts in the Kata competition, Kumite (sparring) participants thrilled the audience with Andy Balane taking the lead and the Lightweight Championship plaque in the Green belt category. He was followed by Danny Iglesia and Noel Torlao who gamely fought for the right to claim the Championship plaque in the Green belt Middleweight category which was eventually won by the former.
With a Championship plaque already to his credit, Al Debalucos, a perennial winner in Kumite events, lost his bearing earlier but still managed to grab 3rd place honors in the Brown belt Lightweight category. Boy Cielo Sensei on the other hand, had more energy to spare in the Kumite event and was crowned Black belt Champion in the combined Middle/Heavyweight category. Meanwhile in the Junior Division, Brian Sagmit added another 3rd place honor for his effort in the Kata - Greenbelt category bringing SSKI's final medal tally to 5-1-3.
Being one of the founding members of FIMAA, with Master Nestor Suliva as its current President, SSKI also took part in overseeing the smooth conduct of the tournament by fielding some of its instructors namely; Senseis Jun Loyola, Sonny Alvarez, Ben Micu, Jr., Samuel Nacario, Jr. & Sonny Dalloran, along with other club instructors to act as referees, judges & arbitrators.
SSKI-Middle East along with SSKI-Canada were founded by Master Eddie V. Rama, a certified 7th Dan Black belt (Shotokan). It has a full-pledge membership with Sphinx International, Philippine Chapter, headed by its founder, Master Jimmy Galez and is locally headed by Romeo Rivero Sensei, a 3rd Dan Black belt with branch chapters in Xenel Bldg., Al Oun Industrial Area, King Faisal Naval Base & Power Punch, among others.
